Pakistan Hockey Legends Roar Back to Revive Game

Pakistan's interim hockey administration has appointed legendary players Samiullah, Islahuddin Siddiqui, and Hasan Sardar to key positions in an effort to revitalize the sport. Samiullah has been named chief selector, tasked with ensuring merit-based player selection. Islahuddin and Hasan Sardar will focus on enhancing professionalism, transparency, and performance within the hockey setup.

Despite questions about their alignment with modern hockey, the legends emphasize the enduring importance of fundamental principles and fair selection. They have prior experience coaching national teams, with Islahuddin credited for past Olympic and Asian Games successes. Hasan Sardar highlighted the need for nurturing young talent and ensuring financial security for players, citing past payment issues that affected performance.

Meanwhile, former Olympian Khawaja Junaid has been appointed to accompany the national side to Egypt for World Cup qualifiers, though this decision has faced criticism. Pakistan aims to finish in the top three of the qualifiers to secure a spot in the World Cup, an event they have missed the last two editions of. Their group opponents include Austria, China, and Malaysia.